Flock Freight | Quantifying a Load – Steve Burns Investigates

Flock Freight’s ad turns freight logistics into a mock investigative mystery, starring Steve Burns (yes, from Blue’s Clues) as a detective trying to crack the case of an inefficient shipping system. With a mix of deadpan humor, ridiculous scenarios, and an actual solution to the problem, the ad keeps viewers entertained while making a strong case for shared truckload shipping.

The Formula (That Works at Any Budget):

Nostalgic Celebrity = Instant Attention – Steve Burns’ signature investigative style adds a nostalgic hook that instantly makes the ad stand out.
Lesson: Using a familiar face (especially one with a built-in fanbase) can make your ad more engaging and credible.

Absurdity Meets Real Pain Points – The exaggerated mystery setup highlights real shipping inefficiencies—half-empty trucks, wasted space, and unnecessary costs.
Lesson: Framing common industry frustrations as a mystery makes them more engaging and easy to understand.

Product as the Missing Clue – The case is “solved” when Flock Freight’s shared truckload solution is introduced, eliminating wasted space and inefficiencies.
Lesson: Position your product as the key to solving an industry-wide problem.

Humor Breakdown:

The ad plays on classic detective tropes—serious narration, red-string evidence boards, dramatic revelations—only to apply them to something as mundane as freight shipping. The contrast between the over-the-top mystery tone and the simplicity of the actual problem makes it funny, engaging, and memorable.

Final Verdict:

Flock Freight turns a dry logistics topic into an entertaining whodunit, making freight efficiency not just relevant but genuinely fun to watch. With Steve Burns leading the investigation, the ad blends nostalgia, humor, and problem-solving into a creative and effective message.

Brave-o-meter score: 

B-8 | R-8 | A-9 | V-7 | E-7

BRAVE – 7.8/10

Watch the full ad & learn more:
Website: Flock Freight
LinkedIn: Flock Freight LinkedIn Page

(See what BRAVE means in our collection)

Understanding the B.R.A.V.E. Scoring System

The B.R.A.V.E. scoring system uses AI to deliver an unbiased evaluation of top-of-the-funnel B2B brand ads. It measures potential impact, memorability, and effectiveness by assessing five key components of a video ad or commercial. This system gauges an ad's capacity to drive brand recall and enhance salience, ensuring that creative work not only captures attention but also leaves a lasting impression.

What B.R.A.V.E. Stands For:

Each letter represents a key factor in determining an ad’s success:

  • BBoldness: Is the ad original, creative, or daring? Does it break away from generic B2B marketing, or is it just another forgettable corporate video?
  • RRelevance: Does it connect with a real buyer pain point? Is it addressing a specific frustration or need, or just listing product features?
  • AAttention: Does it grab and hold attention in the first few seconds? Is it visually or tonally engaging, or easy to skip?
  • VVibe: Does it create an emotional response—laughter, recognition, or surprise? Or does it feel like just another corporate info dump?
  • EEffectiveness: Will buyers remember the brand when they need a solution? Does the ad make an impact that lasts beyond the moment?

How It’s Applied to B2B Video Rating

Each video is scored 1 to 10 in all five categories, based on how well it meets the criteria. The total score (out of 50) is then divided by 5 to give a final B.R.A.V.E. score out of 10.

For example:

  • An ad scoring B-8 | R-9 | A-7 | V-6 | E-8 has a total of 38/50.
  • The final B.R.A.V.E. score is 7.6/10.

Why It Matters

B2B ads often struggle with being bland, forgettable, or ineffective. The B.R.A.V.E. system ensures they are judged by their ability to break through, connect with buyers, and drive action.

Simply put: If your ad isn’t B.R.A.V.E., it’s invisible.

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